How to get your whites white?

[toggleswitch2]

Yes, but bleach interferes with detergent's ability to do its job and vice versa.

IMHO bleach with detergent in last 5 minutes of wash only, in a top-loader.

In a front-loader you are better off adding bleach to the first rinse. Putting it in the wash really kills the possibility of any good cleaning.

 

[brisnat81]

We've got moderately soft water here, usually a scoop of Drive and a 50degC short wash is all it takes. 1hr 20mins (With 3 rinses)

If its stained, then add half a capfull of oxygen bleach and push the wash time out to 2hrs (3 Rinses)

Everything is always white, requires no pretreatment and best of all, no chlorine bleach.

I love the cultural differences between countries, here chlorine bleach is a last resort to whiten fabric and has been that way since the late 70's when the Oxygen Bleach wash boosters first appeared. Bleach here is used to disinfect surfaces and kill mould and rarely for anything else.

 

[norgeway]

I have heard the argument- - -

About bleach and detergent,I always do it the old way and add the bleach at the start of the wash,true, detergent is not what it once was, all the good stuff that cleans has been done away with by the EPA...aka @#$%^ %$#@ of America,I am against pollution as much as the next guy,but leave old time formulas such as Tide ALONE!!

 

[favorit]

but bleach interferes with detergent's ability to do its

Toggles, that's true !
When I have to use bleach to deodorize moist wetsuits that sat inside the car for a couple of day, i stir some dishwashing liquid in the laundry tub half full of warm water, then add some LCB and stir again. This way I don't risk that some sprinkles may damage the clothes i'm wearing and the wetsuits don't loose their black dye. Chlorine is less powerful, however it works on that disgusting smell.

Ray, indeed some stains are boilwash-proof. Peach juice can be worse than ink ... let's face it, there's nothing else than LCB against peach juice stains. Of course LCB is no more common in Euro and AUS households .... but in commercial laundries LCB is still popular. It leads to lower temps, faster cycles and far less rewashing ---> faster machinery depreciation.

 

[rayjay]

I generally wait about 10 min, into the wash in my LG, then I add the bleach to the detergent dispenser. It does a great job. I have also added it to the first rinse, but the bleach is not in contact long enough to do a great job of whitening and stain removal. At times, I run it through a quick wash, the re-start and add bleach. Now....this really makes the whites white.